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Ortega upsets Robles at IAAF Centennial Anniversary meet in Havana

READ ON for English and French language version- La traduction française suit le texte anglais

Orlando Ortega ran the best 110m Hurdles of his life, clocking 13.09 to upset World record holder and Olympic champion Dayron Robles at a meet held Sunday in Havana to celebrate the IAAF centennial anniversary.

The starting gun seemed to confuse a few athletes, including Robles, but Ortega did not hesitate and took an early lead. Robles tried to catch him in vain as the 20-year-old cruised to victory in 13.09, a massive personal best by two tenths of a second.

The meet generated high expectation as Robles was running his first race on home soil since the 2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships.

Ortega moved to third on the Cuban all-time lists and the 2012 world lists. He also posted the second fastest time ever on the Island, only slower than Briton Colin Jackson’s 13.07 at the 1992 World Cup.

"I am excited as I was expecting a great result for a while. I will continue to train hard to fight for a medal in London," said Ortega was he was congratulated by Robles and coach Santiago Antúnez. Ignacio Morales finished third in 13.58.

"I am not surprised by Ortega’s win as he is a good shape," stated Robles, who admitted he hesitated about a possible false start. "But it did not affect the final result. I continue to train to peak at the right time," he added as he was surrounded by dozens of children.

Coach Antúnez commented, "There was a certain irregularity with the starting gun, but that does not justify anything. We expected a fast race."

Both Ortega and Robles will next race in the US legs of the Samsung Diamond League in Eugene on 2 June and New York on 9 June.

World junior medallists Dainelys Alcántara in the Triple Jump and Amaury Valle in the 400m Hurdles also posted surprising wins.

Two-time World junior champion Alcántara landed at 14.58m, a personal best, to inflict Yargelis Savigne’s first loss at home in many years. Savigne finished third in 14.20, behind Josleidy Ribalta (14.30).

World medallist Alexis Copello took the men’s event in 17.00m, ahead of Osviel Hernández (16.75m) and David Girat (16.71m).

In the 400m Hurdles, Amaury Valle ran his first sub-50 second race since winning the World junior bronze in 2008 to win in a personal best of 49.22 over 2011 Pan American Games champion Omar Cisneros (50.49). Valle ran under the Olympic A standard and will join Cisneros in London.

Just three days after competing in Ostrava, two-time World Hammer Throw champion and Olympic medallist Yipsi Moreno unleashed her best throw ever on home soil (75.27m) to move to the fifth spot on the world lists.

"It was a great experience competing in Ostrava and I know I can achieve my goal (78 metres) after this effort here. It is a titanic task coming back after motherhood but the support of my family, my coach and my people has been phenomenal. I do it all for my son and for them," said Moreno, who was followed by 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Yunaika Crawford (69.23m) and Ariannis Vichy (68.14m).

After posting two wins over World champion Fabiana Murer in Brazil, Pan American Pole Vault champion Yarisley Silva stayed consistent at 4.60m, the highest mark ever cleared by a woman in Cuba.

"I had difficulties at the beginning with the run-up, but recovered my rhythm and I am happy to stay consistent and more importantly achieve a good height in front of my family and my people," said Silva, who was followed by training partner Dailys Caballero (4.40m).

The men’s event was taken by 2011 World silver medallist Lázaro Borges (5.40m).

Moreno, Silva and Borges will compete at the Diamond League stop in Eugene.

High jumpers Wanner Miller of Colombia and Fabiola Ayala of Mexico (1.85m) were the only foreign athletes to win their events. Miller set a personal best and achieved a B standard for the London Olympics.

Other winners were Michael Herrera in 200m (20.88), Daisumari Bonne (52.55) and William Collazo (46.36) in 400m; Pan American Games champion Andy Gonzalez (1:46.22) and Rose Mary Almanza (2:01.88) in 800m, 17-year old Paula Alvarez (6.45) and Pedro Díaz (7.73) in the Long Jump, Yainelis Ribeaux (59.18) in the Javelin, Jorge Fernández (61.97) and Yarelis Barrios (62.76) in the Discus, and Misleidys González (18.62) and Carlos Veliz (19.59) in the Shot Put.

Roberto Janet won the men’s Hammer in 72.56m and Rubén Goliat the 20km Race Walk in 1:25.06.

The IAAF Centennial Anniversary meet marked a competitive farewell for Cuba’s top athletes before they embark on their US and European tours in the lead-up to London Olympics.